Formation and evolution of dwarf early-type galaxies in the Virgo cluster

Toloba, Elisa; Boselli, A.; Peletier, Reynier F.; Falcón-Barroso, J.; Ven, Glenn van de; Gorgas, J.

doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201218944

Cited by 51 publications

(83 citation statements)

References 89 publications

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“…9). It is also consistent with the spectrophotometric, structural (Boselli et al 2008a,b), and kinematic (Toloba et al 2009(Toloba et al , 2011(Toloba et al , 2012(Toloba et al , 2015 properties of Virgo cluster dwarf elliptical galaxies that were extensively reviewed in Boselli & Gavazzi (2014).…”

Section: Figsupporting

confidence: 84%

The GALEX Ultraviolet Virgo Cluster Survey (GUViCS)

Boselli

Boissier

Voyer

et al. 2015

A&A

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We use the GALEX data of the GUViCS survey to construct the near-ultraviolet (NUV) luminosity function of the Virgo cluster over ∼300 deg 2 , an area covering the cluster and its surrounding regions up to ∼1.8 virial radii. The NUV luminosity function is also determined for galaxies of different morphological types and NUV − i colours, and for the different substructures within the cluster. These luminosity functions are robust vs. statistical corrections since based on a sample of 833 galaxies mainly identified as cluster members with spectroscopic redshift (808) or high-quality optical scaling relations (10). We fit these luminosity functions with a Schechter function, and compare the fitted parameters with those determined for other nearby clusters and for the field. The faint end slope of the Virgo NUV luminosity function (α = −1.19), here sampled down to ∼NUV = −11.5 mag, is significantly flatter than the value measured in other nearby clusters and similar to the field value. Similarly, M * = −17.56 is one to two magnitudes fainter than measured in Coma, A1367, the Shapley supercluster, and the field. These differences seem to be due to the quite uncertain statistical corrections and the small range in absolute magnitude sampled in these clusters. We do not observe strong systematic differences in the overall NUV luminosity function of the core of the cluster with respect to that of its periphery. We note, however, that the relative contribution of red and blue galaxies at the faint end is inverted, with red quiescent objects dominating the core of the cluster and star forming galaxies dominating beyond one virial radius. This observational evidence is discussed in the framework of galaxy evolution in dense environments.

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Section: Figsupporting

confidence: 84%

The GALEX Ultraviolet Virgo Cluster Survey (GUViCS)

Boselli

Boissier

Voyer

et al. 2015

A&A

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“…This scenario is also confirmed by the recent kinematic observations of Toloba et al ( , 2011Toloba et al ( , 2012Toloba et al ( , 2014. Indeed, a large fraction of dwarf elliptical galaxies with stellar masses 10 8.5 < M star < 10 9.5 M within Virgo are rotationally supported systems with rotation curves similar to those of late-type systems of comparable stellar mass.…”

Section: Dwarf Galaxiessupporting

confidence: 77%

The GALEX Ultraviolet Virgo Cluster Survey (GUViCS)

Boselli

Voyer

Boissier

et al. 2014

A&A

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We study the role of the environment on galaxy evolution using a sample of 868 galaxies in the Virgo cluster and in its surrounding regions that are selected from the GALEX Ultraviolet Virgo Cluster Survey (GUViCS) with the purpose of understanding the origin of the red sequence in dense environments. The sample spans a wide range in morphological types (from dwarf ellipticals to Im and BCD) and stellar masses (10 7 M star 10 11.5 M ). We collected multifrequency data covering the whole electromagnetic spectrum for most of the galaxies, including UV, optical, mid-and far-infrared imaging data, as well as optical and HI spectroscopic data. We first identify the different dynamical substructures that compose the Virgo cluster, and we calculate the local density of galaxies using different methods. We then study the distribution of galaxies belonging to the red sequence, the green valley, and the blue cloud within the different cluster substructures or as a function of galaxy density. Our analysis indicates that all the most massive galaxies (M star 10 11 M ) are slow rotators and are the dominant galaxies of the different cluster substructures, which are generally associated with a diffuse X-ray emission. They are probably the result of major merging events that occurred at early epochs, as also indicated by their very old stellar populations. Slow rotators of lower stellar mass (10 8.5M star 10 11 M ) are also preferentially located within the different high-density substructures of the cluster. Their position in the velocity space indicates that they are virialised within the cluster; thus, they are Virgo members since its formation. They have been shaped by gravitational perturbations occurring within the infalling groups that later form the cluster (pre-processing). On the contrary, low-mass star-forming systems are extremely rare in the inner regions of the Virgo cluster A, where the density of the intergalactic medium is at its maximum. Our ram pressure stripping models consistently indicate that these star-forming systems can be rapidly deprived of their interstellar medium during their interaction with the intergalactic medium. The lack of gas quenches their star-formation activity transforming them into quiescent dwarf ellipticals. This mild transformation does not perturb the kinematic properties of these galaxies, which still have rotation curves typical of star-forming systems.

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“…These 18 dEs have been previously presented in Toloba et al (2009Toloba et al ( , 2011Toloba et al ( , 2012; the remaining 21 are analyzed for the first time in this series of papers.…”

Section: Spectroscopymentioning

confidence: 99%

Stellar Kinematics and Structural Properties of Virgo Cluster Dwarf Early-Type Galaxies From the Smakced Project. Ii. The Survey and a Systematic Analysis of Kinematic Anomalies and Asymmetries

Toloba

Guhathakurta

Peletier³

et al. 2014

ApJS

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We present spatially resolved kinematics and global stellar populations and mass-to-light ratios for a sample of 39 dwarf early-type (dE) galaxies in the Virgo cluster studied as part of the SMAKCED stellar absorption-line spectroscopy and imaging survey. This sample is representative of the early-type population in the Virgo cluster in the absolute magnitude range −19.0 < M r < −16.0 and of all morphological subclasses found in this galaxy population. For each dE, we measure the rotation curve and velocity dispersion profile and fit an analytic function to the rotation curve. We study the significance of the departure of the rotation curve from the best-fit analytic function (poorly fit) and of the difference between the approaching and receding sides of the rotation curve (asymmetry). Our sample includes two dEs with kinematically decoupled cores that have been previously reported. We find that 62 ± 8% (23 out of the 39) of the dEs have a significant anomaly in their rotation curve. Analysis of the images reveals photometric anomalies for most galaxies. However, there is no clear correlation between the significance of the photometric and kinematic anomalies. We measure age-sensitive (H β and H γ A ) and metallicity sensitive (Fe4668 and Mgb) Lick spectral indices in the LIS-5 Å system. This population of galaxies exhibits a wide range of ages and metallicities; we also find that 4 dEs show clear evidence of emission partially filling in the Balmer absorption lines. Finally, we estimate the total masses and dark matter fractions of the dEs and plot them in the mass-size, the mass-velocity dispersion, and the fundamental plane scaling relations. The dEs seem to be the bridge between massive early-type galaxies and dSphs, and have a median total mass within the R e of log M e = 9.1 ± 0.2 and a median dark matter fraction within the R e of f DM = 46 ± 18%. Any formation model for the dE galaxy class must account for this diversity of kinematic and photometric anomalies and stellar populations.

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Formation and evolution of dwarf early-type galaxies in the Virgo cluster

Cited by 51 publications

References 89 publications

The GALEX Ultraviolet Virgo Cluster Survey (GUViCS)

The GALEX Ultraviolet Virgo Cluster Survey (GUViCS)

The GALEX Ultraviolet Virgo Cluster Survey (GUViCS)

Stellar Kinematics and Structural Properties of Virgo Cluster Dwarf Early-Type Galaxies From the Smakced Project. Ii. The Survey and a Systematic Analysis of Kinematic Anomalies and Asymmetries

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